Vehicle running-gear.



R. B. FAGEOL.

VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR.

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R. B. FAGEOL.

VEHICLE RUNNING GEAR.

APPLICATION nun mm. ma.

l ,1 69,4%. Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

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' :nomia: nl reenonor oaKLaNn', CALIFORNIA.

VEHICLE RUNNING-GEAR.

Licoaaei l'o all 'whom it 'may concern: Be it known that LROLLIE B. FAenoL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in. Vehicle Running-Gears, ofv which the following is a specification. l

The present invention relatcseto an improved vehicle running gear, and more particularly-to a type of structure designed for use in connection with what are commonly termed as trailers, wherein it is desired to have Aeach vehicle or trailer in rear of the source ofpower following the tracks of the preceding vehicle of thetrain.

-The invention has for its objects to provide an im roved running gear having an improved s ortfturning gear, which .will enable the rear vehicle wheels to travel in the same pathas the front wheels, either when turning corners or-traveling in a straight line; to provide a running gear having an improved spring suspension for the frame, whereby the frame will be uniformly depressed on a load being placed thereon.

With the above mentioned and other objects lin view, the invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings-and set forth in the claims hereto appended; it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proper` tion, size and minor details of construction within the' scope ofthe claims may be resorted to without depaitin from'the spirit er sacrificing any of the a vantages of the invention. r

To more fully comprehend'the invention, reference is directed drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in'top plan of a vehicle running" gear-"embodying my invention'.

Fig. 2 is a view'inLlengitudinalsection, tekenen-line 2-'21of'F 1g.-1i Fig. 31s a' transversefsectional Aview, disclosing one of the axles and frame` supporting springs associate'd"therewith; Fig. 4 inbreken' seeti'onalf v iew'-4taken-on line 4 4' of :Figc 3.y

Fig.A is a verticalf'sectional lview, taken." onv V line' 'of'FigiiigblisaWiew mend elevational? the structure discloeedzinFig. Referring -morejparticularly tol thedrawings, wvhereinfflikecharacters 'off reference Specification o! Letters Extent.

to the' accompanying- Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

Application lled January 5, 1915. Serial No. 615.

designate corresponding parts throughout the several views-1 are the side frame members connected by the end members 2, and extending transversely over said side frame members are the axles 3 vertically forked, as at 4, and in said forks turn on a vertical pivot 5, a steering knuckle 5 carrying the spindles to which the road wheels are journaled. The vertical pivots each carrying a steering knuckle arm 6, and corresponding arms are connected by a tie rod 7.

Secured to the underside of each axle is a late 8 formed with a downwardly projected iollow trunnion 9, each of which 1s located centrally of'their respective axles. A bushingl 10 surrounds each trunnion and rotatable thereon is the hub 11 of a substantially T-shaped casting formed with side arms 12 and main arms 13, and said castings are retained in position on their respective trunnions by a cap 14. threaded thereto and formed with a flange 15.

A side arm 12 extending from one side of the pivotal point of one of the castings carried by one axle is pivotally connected at' its end through a link 16 with one end of one of said side arms extending from the opposite side of the pivotal point of the casting carried by the opposite axle, and the main arms 13 of the cast-ings' are each connected by links 17 with the tie rods 7 associated therewith.

It will be observed that the front and rear i wheels being connected as above described` will on the turning of one of the'T-castings follow in 'the tracks of the preceding wheel. ln my improved construction the wheels are so set that ,a line throu h the vertical pivots 5 of the stceringiknuck es 5 to the center of the opposite trunnion 9 will pass through the center ofthe pivotal point of the tie rod 7 and the usteering knuckle' arm 6 associated withA the pivot. It is this construe.- tion whichenables the rear. wheels tozalways track witli't-hefront wheels, either when goin0r in a strai'ht-line or in making a turn.

`romfthe liubj lllof the Tcasting associated with the front of the vehicle are the laterally projecting arms 18 formed beneath the arms. 12, and the same are formed at their ends with cu I shaped recesses in which it bearings 19. ver said bearings 19 fit the cupped ends of draw `barlinks 2O which are connected to etherbymods 21,:1nd4 .the-outer ends of said inksfare cupped, as atv 22,' and retain bearingse' Whichi rest .in suitable sockets in theinner end of a casting Q4, situated between the outer ends of said links. The end of said casting is preferably spheri-A cal, and said ends of succeeding vehiclesare received in a suitable socket of a draw membe 9.6 carried bythe rear portiornof the frame of a preceding vehicle. A draw bar constructed and mounted 'as described, permits of a universal movement between the connected-vehicles. v

Supporting bases E27-'are provided onI t-hel upper porti'ouoteach upper* fork-member at the ends of the -axles 3, an'don the' same rest' coil compression springsv 28"' which support'the ends of yokes' 29, and each of said vokes rests on and is supported centrallj7 by' the upwardly bowedleat spring structure 30, pivotallv connected at'each end tol the underside' of the bases 2T by a linkl. lSuitable U-bolts 32 detachably unite the yokcs and the leaf'springstructures, adjacent the central portions thereof.

"Suitable bolt receiving cves are formed on either side of the vokcs 29 adjacent their ends. and through the same -extend the parallel spaced bolts 33 between which 'are held the spacing members 34', which contact at their upper ends with the underside' of the yokc's and at their lower ends rest on'tlieV side frame'finembersfl land said bolts are connected at their lo'ner ends` by the plates 35 which pass under the side' frame members' 1. 'l v The spacing members 34 are eachy formed with a central channel 36 adapted to contain a quantity of lubricant soaked Waste and arel adapted to operate at their'inner faces over guides 37- carried by the sides of the axles 3. The inner surfaces of the spacing members 34 are formed witlroil hubs 38 to permit lubricant to pass from the interior thereof and lubricate the surface betvveen the spacing members and the guides.

'A suitable truss rod'f) connects the cap 14, and the opposite ends ofi said rod are received in groovesin the respective caps.

'It will be apparent that I have provided a vehicle running gear havinglazlcw center of gravity, thisbeing accomplished by extend ing the framebeneath thejsirpporting axles? and hanging the'same only-the'supportingl the' rzri'ncfwillbe Luni?. formallyr supportedfby thespringss Having thus -dcscribcd I claim is:- 'if e, l..

:f 1.' A, 'vehiclev runningf gear Acb inprising a, fram-e, Ifront' and lrear supporting axles, vertically pivotedwheel supporting spindles carl ried saidaxles fand each" formed nithfan arm,y wheels `n'i'said'fsiindles, a 'tieV rodA c :cnf4 nectmg the'arins ofthe'spindles1 on .the-fre#` s'psctiv axles, ai vertically-.pivoted bell cra'nlr mymventionwhat adjacent each axle, a link connection between one arm of each bell crank and the adjacent tie rod, a link connecting the other arm of said bell cranks, and'a steering connection associated with they bell crank of said front axle.

2. A vehicle running gear comprising a frame, front and rear supportingaxlescarryingmovable wheel supporting spindles,

wheels on said spindles, means connecting the spindles on the respectiveaxles, means adjacent each axle for controlling the'mo'vement otthe supporting spindles associated therewithpa connectionl between the supporting spindle controlling meansl on the respective axles, and asteering connection associated with the sup orting spindle controlling means of the ront axle.4

3. A vehiclev running gear comprising a frame, front and rear supporting axlescarrying movable Wheel supporting spindles, Wheels carried by said spindles, means associated with the front axle to causeV the 4front wheels to operate in unison in the same'direction, means associated with the rear axle to cause the rear wheels to operate in unison in the same direction, a connection between the front and rear wheel. steering?, means tov operate said' pairs of Wheels in. unison in opposite directions,a steeringl and draw-barpivotedV on a horizontal axis to operatev with. said..front wheels-'and connected for universal pivotal movement at itsopp'ositeend with a draw member carried by a second vehicle, said draw and steering bar formed of a plurality of sections` the copcrating ends of which are connected to pivot on a horizontalaxis.

4. A vehicle runningr gear comprising a frame, rontand rear supporting axles, each carrying. movable `vvheelA supporting spindles` wheels carried by said spindles. tic rods' one associated with the spindles of euch axle for connecting tho same to operate in unison in the samedirection, and means connecting;r the `respective tie rods for causing the front andirear wheels to steer simultancouslyin theopposite directions, a. journaled member cooperating with thetie rod connecting means, and a ,steering and draw bar connectedto. pivot at one end witbsaid journaled member on a horizontal axis and connected for-universal pivotal movement at its opposite end with adraw member carried by-.msecond vehicle, said draw andsteering bar formed of aphirality of sections, the coperating ends of whichare connected to pivot-onra horizontal axis.

5. A vvehicle running" gear .comprising .a frame,rontland rear supporting axles, veryticallzy r pivoted .'wheel -supporting spindles carried by'saldaxlcs,"wheele on; saidspinof each bell crank connected to the tie rod connecting 'the spindles of the respective axles, and a link connecting the free arm of the respective bellcranks to operate the same to cause the pairs of wheels to steer in unison in opposite directions.

6. A vehicle running gear comprising supporting axles and wheels therefor, a frame extending under said axles, an npwardly bowed supporting spring member carried at its ends by each of said axles and extending longitudinally thereof, yokes each resting at its center on one of said spring members, and supporting rods carried adjacent the ends of said yokes for supporting said frame.

T. A vehicle running gear comprisingfront and rear supporting axles and wheels therefor, a frame extending under said axles, upwardly bowed supporting spring members one carried at its ends by each of said axles and extending longitudinally of its associated axle, yokes resting at their eenters one on each supporting spring, supporting rods carried adjacent the ends of the said yokes for supporting the frame, and coiled springs interposed between the ends of the yokes and their respective axles.

8. A vehicle running gear comprising a pair of supporting axles provided at their ends with raised portions, a frame extending under said axles, supporting springs each bowed vupwardly at its center and each adapted to extend longitudinally of the upper surface of one of said axles, links connecting the ends of said springs with said raised portions of said axles, a yoke associated with each spring and resting on the bowed portion thereof, and means assoeiated with said yokes for supporting said frame.

9. A vehicle running gear comprising a pair of supporting axles formed adjacent their ends with raised portions, a frame, supporting springs each bowed upwardly at its center and each extended longitudinally of the upper surface of one of said axles and each pivotally hung at its ends beneath said raised portions, a yoke associatedwith each spring and resting on the bowedl portion thereof, and means associated with said yokes for securing said frame thereto.

10. A vehicle running gear comprising a pair of` supporting `axles formed adjacent their ends with raised springs each bowed upwardly at its center and each extended longitudinally of the upper surface of one of said-axles and each pivotally hung at its ends beneath said raised portions, a yoke associated with each spring and resting on the bowed portion thereof, coiled springs interposed between said yokes adjacent' their ends and said spring supporting portions, and means associated with said yokes for securing said frame thereto.

11. A vehicle having steering mechanism, comprising a journaled member, a steering and draw bar connected to pivot at one end with said journaled member on a horizontal axis and connected for universal pivotal movement at its opposite end with a draw member carried by a second vehicle, said draw and steering bar formed of a plurality of sections, the coperating ends of which are connected to pivot on a horizontal axis.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROLLIE B. FAGEOL.

Vitnesses:

Hanny A. To'i'rEN, D. B. RICHARDS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ava cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

